Mozilla to fix Firefox add-on compatibility

[DKT27]

As more and more versions of Firefox are released, the compatibility of add-ons is becoming an increasingly worrisome problem for Mozilla.

Mozilla is planning to address Firefox add-on compatibility issues as new versions of the browser hit the Web more often.

Mozilla kicked off this summer its controversial plan to release new versions of its Firefox browser every six weeks. The idea, the company has said, is to bring more functionality to its users more often.

In some cases, that change has been beneficial for users who want the updates the browser brings to the market. In other cases, it has proven to be a bit of a problem. One of the most notable issues related to the rapid-release cycle is the impact it has on add-ons.

In a blog post yesterday examining the state of Firefox add-ons, Mozilla add-ons product manager Justin Scott revealed that in these days of rapid-release Firefox versions, the organization is facing difficulty ensuring that all add-ons will be compatible with new versions of the browser.

According to Scott, Firefox has historically assumed that add-ons are incompatible in a new version of the browser by default. In the past, when Mozilla would launch new versions of the browser every year or so, that was often true. But now that it's releasing new versions every six weeks, this is simply not the case.

"When Firefox 6 launched, 97 percent of add-ons compatible with Firefox 5 were still compatible with 6," Scott wrote yesterday. "And we're on track to launch Firefox 7 tomorrow with 99 percent compatibility from 6."

However, add-on compatibility is a relative term in the Firefox ecosystem. Mozilla has been scanning add-ons in its own marketplace but does not do so with the add-ons that aren't hosted through its site. About 75 percent of all the add-ons in use each day--about 450 million--are not hosted in its marketplace.

"So, how do 450 million add-ons get installed if not from addons.mozilla.org?" Scott asked. "Third-party bundling. More and more software tries to plop a toolbar into Firefox when you install it, often without asking you. Java Console alone has more than 100 million installations among Firefox users on Windows, and it doesn't even do anything."

Scott went on to say that many of those add-ons "use their own update mechanisms" to ensure their applications work with the browser, rather than employ Firefox's own compatibility-checking option. The result, Scott says, is confusion and sometimes, issues for users.

But luckily for those folks, Scott says Mozilla has a solution. Rather than just thinking about hosted add-ons, Mozilla will take the compatibility of nonhosted add-ons into account, as well. He said that Firefox will soon be "more trusting of add-on compatibility with new versions" and will no longer assume all add-ons are incompatible with the latest version of the software. The feature will be made available in Firefox 10.

As Scott noted, Mozilla plans to launch Firefox 7 today. So, users will need to wait some time to finally have add-ons default to compatibility.

View: Original Article

[Ehsan]

I suggest to add this statement

user_pref("extensions.checkCompatibility.7.0", false);

to prefs.js at this address:

C:\Users\YOUR NAME\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default

and then install FireFox 7.0

[bob1234]

For what it's worth, I just updated to FF7 with 26 addons, and none of them had any issues/warnings about incompatibility.

[HX1]

I have a total of four that are incompatible with 7 Final.. but they are running and do their job anyway..

[ROMANTICGUY50]

I lost at least 8 or 9 that don't work, including Roboform which has all my passwords and without it I don't remember them all

[7even]

I lost at least 8 or 9 that don't work, including Roboform which has all my passwords and without it I don't remember them all

Me too. Is there any solution to overcome this Roboform issue? :frusty:

[leland]

You can get this now if you install the extension Add-on Compatibility Reporter (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/?src=api). It defaults the add-ons to functional status and allows you to report which are working or not. It has allowed me to continue using Sticky Password which in the past I had to wait for a new version to come out to continue using much like the users mentioned with Roboform. Good lick.

Leland

:D

[avmad]

Or install the addon Roboform Lite (which works), select for this computer only, and it will read all of your logins. Sometimes you have to look at your logins list to select the right one but at least it will work. B)

[DKT27]

Or use Lastpass. Never had compatibility problems and is free. :)

But yes, I recommend addon compatibility reporter to fix addon compatibility. ^_^

[HX1]

OR.. LOL.. install Nightly Tester Tools and Force Compatibility..... I swear I must have typed it a hundred or two times.. :rolleyes: ... Had to get on the whORe Train..

[RideFarAway]

This was the main reason I quit using Firefox. May be time to go back now.

[Maxhedroom]

So...they'll have it taken care of by FF 10...wonderful. I may give FF7 a try and test the add-ons. I Only use Adblock, FlagFox, Download Status Bar, and NoScript.

Oh...also installed TextLink...pretty handy. Lets you open txt urls that are not links...no more copy/paste.

[avmad]

OR update to Roboform 7.5 <_<